The Hop-Edition

By: Jayde Gauley Second-Year Brewmaster Student  I’m from small town Saskatchewan, a population of around three-hundred people, with the nearest city about an hour and a half away. I am often the only one that shows up to a gathering with some sort of craft beer in hand. I also see this around the Olds College campus, the brewery students are asking "What is the new brew on tap?" and the other programs are drinking their Bud-Light. I wanted to know why it seemed like so many small-town people don’t stray away from big brands, and never seemed to try craft beer. I asked the people of my home town and surrounding communities a few different questions about craft beer to see why they thought this was. I had fourteen women and twelve men respond with age ranges from early twenties up to seventies, and the answers were actually pretty surprising. So, what did I find out? Do you prefer big brand beers or craft? Why?  Most of the men answered that they like big brand. T...

By: Mac Lenton Second-Year Brewmaster Student Today* I sat down with Mike Foniok, Head Brewer and Co-founder of The Establishment Brewing. After being open for just over a year, I wanted to chat with Mike and discuss how their brewery came to fruition, what they are currently working on, as well as to get his take on Alberta beer in general. Since opening in early 2019, The Establishment brewing has been one of the most successful new breweries to open in Alberta. The venue boasts a dynamic and spacious taproom which surely catches the eye and impresses consumers. Currently they have eight beer options on tap, varying from light -such their Pilsgnar German pilsner- to dark, with their Fat Sherpa porter. They even have hoppy beers with the very popular Afternoon Delight New England Pale Ale. If all of this wasn’t impressive enough they also offered two barrel aged sour beers on their opening day. As I have been a fan of The Establishment I figured it was worthy to sit down wi...